The discussion about 'profitability' above shows a lack of business understanding.
You can define 'profit' in lots of ways, and it depends on each company's definition of 'profit' as to whether a particular route, or base, is profitable.
For instance, BACon's view of profitability may have been revenue less direct costs (Gross Profit, some may call it). This 'profit' is passed to the company, which takes out it's management and infrastructure costs and may call what's left 'operating profit'. This is then passed to the Group which deducts its own management and infrastructure costs, and perhaps calls what's left 'net profit'. Then the bean-counters deduct things like interest and extraordinary costs before converting the figure to 'earnings', which is what the shareholders may get a share of (if it doesn't go to support the deficit in the Pension Funds!).
Whatever is left is 'retained profit' which is re-invested in the business for the future.
A simple guide to a very complex matter. So was BACon's Bristol base profitable? You tell me!
